In 1901 the creator of the world’s greatest detective visited Dartmoor in order to gather background information on what was to become the best-known detective mystery, The Hound of the Baskervilles. Here Sir Arthur Conan Doyle drew upon local legends, place names and people, to populate his story, creating a work of enduring fame that is constantly retold in books, film and television. In this book we follow in the footsteps of the Sherlock Holmes as he tracks the deadly hound around the moor, taking in the real places visited by the author and playing the role of sleuth ourselves in identifying the locations that provided his inspiration. To add enjoyment to the ‘chase’ the book traces the origins of The Hound story to Dartmoor’s own legendary places, and links each to the moor’s historic public houses and inns. For those visiting Dartmoor the book provides a fascinating glimpse ‘behind the scenes’ of how the fictional story came to be written while offering the chance to explore real places with the added enticement of refreshment along the way.

Over 300 photographs, many dating from the time when The Hound was written, provide the reader with a picture of the moor as it looked when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle visited. They also remind the reader of the vital role that country inns play in rural communities, many sadly under threat and fast disappearing.

Published in association with the Dartmoor Trust Archive, the book reinforces the importance of preserving our visual heritage not only as a reminder of the past but also in inspiring us to secure the best of what remains for future generations to enjoy.